From
Epe, Lagos to Wikki Warm Springs at Yankari, Bauchi State, to Osogbo in Osun
State, to across the Niger Bridge and into remote areas in Nigeria, as well as
other parts of the world, Alonge has seen it all, including underwater and has
documented them.
Passionate
photography and daring adventure are Alonge's great combination, which makes
him a unique and exciting brand. Armed with these two appeals, he has captured
amazing locations and scenery, with his camera. He has travelled to places
across the country, capturing rarely seen photographed treasures and people,
including holiday destinations and hidden wildlife underwater.
The upcoming solo photography exhibition, will feature 30 exhibits. Urban Culture - Historical Continuity presents the
contrast between life in Lagos and nearby villages where time seems to stand
still.
The
exhibition is organised by One Draw and curated by the director of the gallery, Segun Adejumo.
“His
visual language," Adejumo gushes of Alonge's works, "speaks of the
wonders of nature and human exchange, urban culture and searches for historical
continuity, in a world that is sometimes heavily fractured. His lens exposes
contrast and conflict, while offering an alternative vision of one-ness, order
in chaos.
Recurring
themes reflect the challenges people face today and Bolaji manages to expose
beauty where it is not expected. Nigeria is a restless country, with shifting
realities, one foot in the past the other reaching for a better future. Due to
political turmoil, the lives of many were put on hold, which has contributed to
a sense of resilience, but also constant flares of resistance. Music, food and
good times are part of everyday life and a source of pleasure, inspiration and
exuberance."
"Urban
Culture – Historical Continuity is
about Nigeria today," Adejumo continues, "fearlessly looking towards
the future. Alonge also celebrates the wonders of nature by honouring a
tiny green frog. Opolo is a symbol of the abundant wildlife in
the Lagos Lagoon, waiting to be discovered. It is Kerala, the
Amazon and some deep rainforests in South East Asia combined. A beautiful
disaster, exogenous seaweed, has taken over the Lagoon, stopping life in its
tracks. As far as the eye can see, Water Hyacinths create the sensation of
endless green fields, peppered with brilliant pink flowers”.
Alonge's
exhibition includes a rare aerial view of Lagos Marina and the entire Lagos
Central Business District (CBD). While on the streets, chaos seems to be the
norm, from up there Lagos has all the characteristics of an African megapolis,
shining under the sun”. Femi Anikulapo-Kuti and the Queens of the New Afrika
Shrine are also a beloved subject for Alonge, celebrating joy but also deeply
rooted resistance and belief in a better future free from corruption and
strife. The show also touches upon societal concerns such as
#LazyNigerianYouths and the on-going migration crisis.
He also
pictures Makoko, the “Venice of Lagos”. “In the midst of chaos and under the
threat of destruction, Makoko is not only surviving but thriving. In Lagos,
hope is seemingly everlasting”. Another stolen moment is the image of Tarkwa
Bay, an idyllic spot just a short boat ride from the heart of Lagos. In the
background, the first highrise buildings of the Eko Atlantic project
appear.
Alonge
is an artist, photographer, actor and journalist from Lagos, Nigeria. He is
also a globetrotter who has travelled the world during the last decade
documenting exotic culture and history, pushed forward by a wanderlust
instilled in him since childhood.
He was
born in Lagos, first of five siblings with a father in the Nigerian air force,
and a loving mother who took care of the family. His dad passed on his passion
for photography to Bolaji, who spent time with him taking and developing images
as a child. He studied Mass Communication at the University of Lagos in the
rowdy nineties, while exploring his acting skills at the famous Theatre 15
UNILAG. Ever since, he has acted in a range of theatre, television and movie
projects.
This
experience and his travels made this artist a great storyteller who loves to
share his photography and the deeper meaning of the stunning images he
presents.
“I
encourage young Africans to take up the camera and document history – those
memories that make up the fabric of existence. In order to move forward we have
to know where we come from. I do it by searching for unique shots, that become
integrated in the mood boards of our lives”.
“I aim
to capture the reality of the average African – a mix of stark realities that
might seem chaotic but have their own functionality – however disorganized it
looks at first sight. Life works in Africa too. The two main components of
chaos theory are the idea that systems, no matter how complex, rely upon an
underlying order, and that very simple or small systems and events can cause
very complex behaviours. This is a red thread throughout my work today”.
 |
| Alonge |
In May
2017, he organized his Eyes of a Lagos Boy photo exhibition at
the prestigious Freedom Park in Lagos to critical acclaim. The show presented
iconic images of everyday life and societal concerns from Nigeria, Egypt, the
Netherlands, Oman, Germany, India, Turkey and Sweden. The show was declared a
resounding success in terms of attendance and response from both the Nigerian
and international audience, giving birth to his photographic brand. This
project also brought Bolaji closer to Freedom Park, making it his creative
base. “Eyes of a Lagos Boy” ran 20-27 May 2017 at Freedom Park and hosted
Africa’s first Nobel Laureate (Literature), Professor Wole Soyinka, among
numerous guests.
As a
marketing stunt that became popular in its own right, Bolaji came up with
branded t-shirts that have been turning heads in Lagos and abroad. None less
than Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, the son of African superstar and creator of Afrobeat
Fela Anikulapo- Kuti and a global music icon, wears it with pride. Bolaji is a
regular at the New Afrika Shrine, a grove of deep rhythms for those addicted to
freedom. Bolaji has been documenting Femi for years and is a dedicated “shrine
rat”.
 |
| Alonge with a friend in the sea |
Exhibition
runs till Sunday, November 25 November, 2018. One Draw is an artist experience,
consultancy, gallery, and research centre for the fine arts. One Draw brings
the intuitive representation of the familiar in drawing, painting and
sculpture. The idea is to bring a profound experience into the mundane, to open
the ordinary eyes to the intellectuality in what seems pedestrian by
highlighting through exquisite draughtsmanship and intuitive rendition the
beauty of everyday experience/life.
By Udemma Chukwuma
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